KR920004800B1 - Eddy current brakes loading devices and ergometers - Google Patents

Abstract

An ergometer includes an eddy current brake having a rotor assembly (5, 6) including an iron material having a carbon content of 0.12% or less and a silicon content of 0.35% or less, a stator (7) provided in the rotor assembly, a plurality of exciting coils (8) provided on the stator, and a power source (9) for energizing the exciting coils (8). The ergometer includes an input panel (11) for inputting physical attributes of the user, e.g. age and sex, a pulse sensor for measuring the heart rate of the user at rest and during exercise on the ergometer, an arithmetic control circuit for calculating a training program and heart rate range and for controlling the eddy current brake to present a load to the user which will maintain the user's heart rate in a predetermined range. The method of using the ergometer enables a user to select a physical strength program and a weight reduction program with the selected program reflecting the age, sex, and the present physical condition of the user.

Description

Bicycle Ergometer & Eddy Current Brake

1 is a plot of brake force-excitation current characteristic curves for flywheels of different materials.

2 is a graph showing the brake force-excitation current characteristic curve of pure iron.

3 is a W-Is characteristic diagram of a conventional eddy current brake.

4 is a characteristic diagram of an eddy current brake according to the present invention.

5 is a torque-speed characteristic diagram of a conventional eddy current brake.

6 is a torque-speed characteristic diagram of an eddy current brake according to the present invention.

7 shows a torque-excitation current characteristic of a conventional eddy current brake.

8 shows a torque-excitation current characteristic of an eddy current brake according to the present invention.

9 is a diagram showing one embodiment of an eddy current brake structure according to the present invention.

10 shows a first embodiment of a bicycle ergometer with a load device according to the invention.

11 is an illustration of a second embodiment of a bicycle ergometer according to the invention.

12 is a block diagram of the microcomputer and load device of the bicycle ergometer shown in FIG.

13 is a front panel view of the input / output box of the bicycle ergometer shown in FIG.

14 is a flowchart of the operation of the bicycle ergometer shown in FIG.

15-18 are plots of least squares mean load-pulse rate characteristics of age and gender.

19A, 19B, 20A and 20B are explanatory diagrams showing a fitness test program.

21 shows a rotary load device for carrying out the method according to the invention.

22 is a block diagram of arithmetic processing and peripheral devices of the apparatus shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 shows a front panel view of an input / output box in the device shown in FIG. 21. FIG.

24A and 24B are two-part flow charts of a fitness program.

25A to 25B and 26A to 26B are explanatory diagrams showing a fitness test program.

27A to 27C, 25A to 25C, and 26 to 26 are flow charts of the fitness measurement program.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

1: Saddle 2: Pedal

3: handle 4: transmission

5: outside rotor 6: inside rotor

7: stator 8: female coil

9: constant current driving circuit 10: bicycle ergometer

11: input / output box 12: pulse detector

20: microcomputer 21: eddy current brake

22: power supply 23: current control circuit

24: characteristic signal generating circuit 27: timer circuit

31: input / output device 32: CPU (central processing unit)

33: RAM 34: ROM

90: control device 100: frame

200: load means

The present invention relates to a training device using a bicycle ergometer, in particular an ergometer, and also to a method in which the bicycle ergometer is used to obtain an optimal load and a normal pulse rate per minute during continuous exercise of the user.

Fly wheels driven by the operator's legs and ergometers constituting a belt for applying load to the fly wheels by friction are commercially useful. The amount of applied load is adjusted by adjusting the weight provided at the belt tip. When the flywheel is rotated at a constant speed, the load can be obtained directly from the weight value. However, it is disadvantageous in that load measurement takes a relatively long time, the size of the load becomes large, and the adjustment of the load is complicated.

Recently ergometers with electrical load means have been available on the market. One such ergometer comprises a flywheel of gray cast iron, a rotation detector for detecting the rotational speed of the flywheel, and a torque detection strain gauge. In order to obtain a predetermined torque in the ergometer, the current supplied to the electromagnetic brake is controlled according to the relationship between the output of the strain gauge and the rotational speed of the flywheel.

As another example, the relationship between the speed, torque and control current value of the flywheel is calculated in advance by a computer or the like and stored in the storage device. According to the command code of the program, the current applied to the braking coil is determined from the rotational speed of the flywheel and the required braking force to obtain a predetermined torque.

The former torque detection means of the ergometer is mechanical, and complicated adjustments must be made before the ergometer is activated or after a long time of use. In the latter ergometer, complex calculations have to be made and other storage devices need to be provided for storing the calculation results as data. In these ergometers, the load means are electrically controlled to obtain a predetermined torque.

Each electric ergometer consists of a stator and a rotor provided inside the stator, and the stator has a drawback because it must have an excitation coil of large size. Therefore, the load device is also opposed, and the stator inner rotor becomes hot.

According to the instructions from the built-in microcomputer, various bicycle ergometers as a training device that inputs personal physical conditions (age, weight, gender and pulse rate per minute) and calculates the optimum load and pulse rate for control under optimum load Has been proposed. The purpose is to adjust the user's continuous motion in accordance with the data thus calculated.

In the method described above in the use of the ergometer, the volumetric load is calculated as data on the static elements of the physical condition (age, gender, weight and stable pulse rate) and can be used as a reference when exercising the user continuously. However, in the determination of the optimal load value, the change of the user's body characteristics during the continuous exercise is not considered. Therefore, the calculated optimal load cannot be used for all users. In other words, the pulse rate per minute reaches the maximum exercise pulse rate per minute before reaching the normal pulse rate per minute provided under the load depending on the user.

The following methods are used to obtain the normal pulse rate per minute of the individual under the correct optimal load. First, the normal pulse rate per minute is measured under increasing load until the user increases the load of the rotary motion device driven by the user step by step and thus the user thinks that the exercise can no longer continue. Next, a load value corresponding to about 70% of the maximum pulse rate per workout, commonly referred to as "exercise optimal pulse rate per minute", is calculated.

Although the method described above is accurate, the user has the drawback of continuing to exercise until the optimal pulse rate per minute is reached. Therefore, this method is dangerous to the user. In addition, the measurement takes a relatively long time.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above difficulties associated with conventional ergometers.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the mechanical configuration at the time of rotor assembly loading.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle ergometer having a load device including an eddy current brake.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a load device for a bicycle ergometer which obtains a substantially constant torque in the actual speed range of the load device and obtains a predetermined load value by a simple control method.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for determining an optimal exercise condition, using the data obtained statistically separately according to age, to obtain a general formula of a load-pulse rate graph.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of determining a load value of a rotating load device increasing in steps according to a graph and measuring a normal pulse rate per minute at each step to obtain a load-pulse rate-approximation line.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for obtaining an optimal load and a normal pulse rate per minute safely and in a short time before the pulse rate per minute of the user reaches the maximum exercise rate per minute.

The above and the other object of the present invention is to provide a load device for a bicycle ergometer comprising a rotor assembly, a stator provided in the rotor assembly, a plurality of excitation coils provided on the stator, and a power source for energizing the excitation coils. Is achieved by According to the present invention, the rotor assembly is composed of an iron material having a carbon content of 0.12% and a silicon content of 0.35% or less. In addition, the load device responds to the output of the square root characteristic signal generator and the indicating means for indicating the required load value, a square root characteristic signal generation circuit for generating a current command signal corresponding to the requested load value in response to the output of the instruction means. It includes a constant current drive circuit provided between the excitation coil and the power source to control the current supplied to the coil.

In addition, the above and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a bicycle ergometer that calculates the upper and lower management limits of the user's pulse rate per minute by inputting the user's physical condition and provides a training range. The user's pulse rate per minute is measured while continuously exercising and thus the user's pulse rate per minute can be maintained in the training range by adjusting the load according to the change in the pulse rate per minute. Bicycle ergometer according to the present invention uses the input means for inputting the user's physical conditions, such as age, gender, load, pulse detector for measuring the user's pulse rate per minute, and the physical condition to provide a training range Calculation control pulse rate according to the program, and if the output from the pulse detector during the continuous movement exceeds the training range, the operation control circuit to change the load value to maintain the output in the training range, carbon content 0.12% or less And a characteristic signal generator circuit and excitation coil power source for generating a square root signal in response to the rotor assembly and the excitation coil made of ferrous material having a silicon content of 0.35% or less and radially in response to the outputs of the stator and the operation control circuit in the layout. It consists of a load device.

Preferably in the present invention, the rotor assembly has a concentric circle structure of two kinds of iron materials and includes an outer rotor and an inner rotor inserted into the outer rotor, and the inner rotor is a group of structural carbon steel tubes (STK and STKM). Is the material selected, while the outer rotor is of cast iron.

The outer rotor can be of non-ferrous material such as cement only when the outer rotor is used to give the inner rotor only a flywheel effect.

In the eddy current brake designed as described above, the load value is controlled by supplying a current to the excitation coil in response to the output signal of the signal generating circuit which sleeps the square characteristic. Therefore, the load device according to the present invention can provide a constant torque without complicated control.

Under the same load, the exciting current of the load device of the present invention is much smaller than that of the conventional load device. Therefore, even if the load device of the present invention is used continuously, the calorific value is small and therefore the load device can be miniaturized.

According to the method of the present invention, the user's steady-state pulse rate per minute is measured as the first data, the normal pulse rate per minute under the first load is measured as the second data, and the load-pulse rate-graph calculated from the least squares statistical mean The second load value is determined by comparison with the first reference value, which is the normal pulse rate per minute under the first load of the bed. The normal pulse rate per minute under the second load is measured as the third data and the third load value is determined by comparing with the second reference value of the normal pulse rate per minute under the second load on the load-pulse graph from the least-squares statistical mean given separately by gender. do. The normal pulse rate per minute under the third load is measured as the fourth data and the upper limit of the measurement is limited to the exercise safety pulse rate per minute for the age and gender of the user. Based on the second to fourth data when the fourth data is obtained, the load-pulse approximation graph is based on the first to third data when the exercise safety pulse rate per minute is reached before the fourth data is obtained. The upper limit obtained is determined from the maximum pulse rate per minute, which is calculated as a combination of age and sex, and a load at about 70% of the maximum pulse rate per minute is obtained.

In the practical application of the present invention, extensive research has been conducted on the characteristics of the eddy current brake. It was found that various parameters, resistivity and permeability greatly influence the characteristics of the eddy current brake as a material property. The flywheel was produced using a variety of materials selected based on the above points relating to the resistivity, permeability, measured brake force and excitation current of the excitation coil.

The results of the measurements are shown in FIG. In Fig. 1, reference numerals (1), (2) and (3) show the brake force-excitation current characteristic curves of flywheels each composed of pure iron, cast iron and gray cast iron. When the data is vertical, the load pedal speed is 50 rpm, in which case the gear ratio is set at 15, so the flywheel speed is 750 rpm.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, the flywheel of pure iron has a high load at a small current, so the performance is best. The flywheel of cast iron is the next best in performance. The gray cast iron fly wheels that have been used so far outperform the two fly wheels. Thus, it can be said that pure iron or cast iron is preferred for producing flywheels.

Next, the relationship between the components of these iron materials and the brake characteristics was examined. The results are as follows. The content of silicon (Si) is related to the intrinsic orientation, and as the amount of silicon decreases, the resistivity also decreases. On the other hand, the carbon content is related to the permeability and the permeability increases as the amount of carbon decreases. Analysis of the components of the fly wheel is shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1

Therefore, when constructing a load device, that is, an eddy current brake, by selecting the compositional component of the flywheel material, excellent load can be obtained and a large load can be obtained at a small current. If the fly wheel is formed of pure iron with the lowest carbon and silicon content among the ferrous materials, the best characteristics and maximum load at low current can be obtained.

However, since it is difficult to obtain pure iron at a low price, a flywheel was manufactured from cast iron obtained with characteristics similar to pure iron. It was found that the flywheel thus prepared was satisfactory. In this case, structural carbon steel pipe (STK or STKM in JIS) is used as the inner member facing the excitation coil in consideration of the torque of the flywheel and the availability of materials on the market, while the outer member is used for the flywheel effect. Even when made of gray cast iron, it was found that almost the same results as when the inner and outer members were made of cast iron were obtained. In this case, since JIS specifies only the upper limit of the compositional components of structural carbon steel pipes STK or STKM, it is necessary to select those having required carbon and silicon from pipes manufactured as standard pipes.

Conventional flywheels made of gray cast iron are called A-type flywheels, and a flywheel having an inner member made of structural carbon steel pipe STK-50 (C = 0.12% or less, Si = 0.35% or less) and an outer member made of gray cast iron is a B type. It is called a fly wheel. The properties of these ply wheels are compared in FIGS. 3-8.

3 and 4 are W-Is characteristic curves of the eddy current brakes of the conventional and the present invention, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the flywheel of the present invention at the same current produces a greater load. At different revolutions per minute, the difference between the loads is small and the characteristic curve can approximate the square curve. In particular, the curve at 40 rpm in Figure 3 is quite far from the other curves.

5 and 6 are the torque-rpm characteristic curves of the eddy current brakes of the conventional and the present invention, respectively. When the practical speed range of the pedal of the load device using the eddy current is 40 to 60 rpm, the range of the torque-current variation is shown in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2

As apparent from Table 2, when the excitation coil current is constant, the flywheel of the load device according to the present invention has less variation than the conventional one in the range of practical revolutions per minute of the pedal of the flywheel, and provides high load. do.

7 and 8 show torque-excitation current characteristic curves based on revolutions per minute as parameters. In each figure, the diagonal line represents the variation of the revolutions per minute and the torque in the range of the practical revolutions per minute, and the diagonal line is the part to be compensated by controlling the current when the load is kept constant.

Assuming that the practical torque at 50 rpm is 38.8 kg or less, which is equivalent to 300 watts, the oblique portion of FIG. 8 can be almost ignored in comparison with the oblique portion of FIG. This means that the eddy current brake using the flywheel according to the present invention can provide a practical constant torque with almost square power of the excitation current without compensating by a special compensation circuit from the outside.

9 shows one embodiment of an eddy current brake according to the present invention. An inner rotor 6 made of structural carbon steel pipe STK-50 is fitted to an outer rotor 5 made of gray cast iron. Six exciting coils 8 are disposed radially on the stator 7 in a manner opposite to the rotor 6. The excitation coil 8 is connected in series, and both ends of the series circuit are connected to a power supply 15 provided externally.

10 shows a bicycle ergometer with an eddy current brake according to the invention. In operation, the user rides on the saddle 1, puts his leg on the pedal 2, and holds the handle 3. By flexing the magnetic leg, the pedal driving force is transmitted from the gear on the pedal shaft to the transmission 4 via a chain or the like and appropriately converted to the rotor assemblies 5 and 6.

The flywheel of the eddy current brake, the load on the bicycle ergometer, is a concentric double wheel structure. The flywheel has an outer rotor 5 of gray cast iron and an inner rotor 6 fitted to the rotor rotor 5. It has an inner rotor 6. The inner rotor 6 has a carbon content of 0.12

It is made of structural carbon steel pipe (STK-50) having a% or less and a silicon content of 0.35% or less. The stator 7 is disposed in the inner rotor 6 coaxially with the inner rotor 6. In the case of FIG. 10, six excitation coils 8 are arranged radially on the stator 7. These excitation coils 8 are connected in series, and both ends of the series circuit are connected to the constant current drive circuit 9 so that a current is supplied to the excitation coil 8.

The constant current drive circuit 9 performs a DA converter for converting the digital value of the load value indication by the ten key keyboard of the input / output box 11 to an analog value, and the square root of the output of the DA converter. A flat root function generator 24, which is generated as a supply current command value, and a constant current drive circuit 23 for controlling the current supplied to the excitation coil 8 in response to the output of the square root function generator, are configured. A constant current drive circuit is connected to the power supply 22 to energize the exciting coil. 11 shows another embodiment of a bicycle ergometer according to the invention and is shown as part of the load device. FIG. 13 shows the front panel of the input / output box 11 of FIG.

The user rides on the saddle 1 of the bicycle ergometer 10 and attaches a pulse detector 12 extending from the side of the input / output box 11 to the ear. Under this condition, the user operates the keys of the box 11 in accordance with the training operation procedure under the front panel of FIG. After attaching the pulse detector 12 to the ear, the user presses the reset key and selects the desired training program, ie a weight loss training program in the middle of the front panel or a general training program. At this time, the ten key in the middle of the front panel 11 is operated to input the physical condition of the user such as age, gender, and training value. If necessary, the target training time and the target consumption exercise amount can be entered.

After pressing the start button, place the leg on the pedal (2) and at the same time hold the handle (3) by hand to perform the flexion movement of the leg. As a result, the load device is driven and the training is started.

The pedal drive force is transmitted from the gear on the pedal shaft to the transmission 4 via a chain or the like, where it is properly shifted and transmitted to the rotor assemblies 5 and 6 of the load device using the eddy current brake of the present invention through the pedal movement. Accordingly, the user can train according to the load value, the target training time, and the target consumption exercise amount input to the front panel of FIG. 13.

An operation control method of the eleventh bicycle ergometer will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

In the present invention bicycle ergometer, the upper control pulse rate, the lower control pulse rate, the initial load value for the input load value, and the warm-up, by the selection of the training program and the age, sex and load value input by the front panel, are used. That is, the load application value until 3 minutes after the start of training is determined.

The data input through the input / output box 11 is stored in RAM in the microcomputer. By pressing the start switch, a general formula (male 220-0.7 x age, female 215-0.7 x age) for obtaining the maximum pulse rate of the age stored in the ROM is transmitted to the CPU. Using this equation, the maximum pulse rate is calculated according to the age of the input user. At this time, the upper limit pulse rate and the lower limit pulse rate (maximum pulse rate -55 (upper limit) and maximum pulse rate -65 (lower limit) for normal training; maximum pulse rate -70 (upper limit) for loss training), depending on the selection of general training or weight loss training. And the maximum pulse rate -80 (lower limit) are calculated.

The bicycle ergometer of the present invention is equipped with a program capable of measuring physical fitness. Therefore, all of the above data can be obtained by performing the necessary physical fitness measurement in advance.

An example of a method of obtaining the data by performing physical fitness measurement is as follows. First, the user's steady state pulse rate is measured as first data. Next, the normal pulse rate under the first load is measured as the second data, and the second load is compared with the first reference value which is the normal pulse rate under the first load on the least square mean load-pulse rate graph obtained by statistics separately according to gender. Determine.

Next, the normal pulse rate under the second load is measured as the third data, and the third load is compared with the second reference value which is the normal pulse rate under the second load on the least square mean load-pulse rate graph obtained by statistics separately according to gender. Determine.

Next, the normal pulse rate under the third load is measured as the fourth data, and the upper limit thereof is limited to the exercise stable pulse rate calculated according to age and gender. When the fourth data is obtained, on the basis of the second, third and fourth data, and when the exercise stable pulse rate is reached before the fourth data is obtained, the load pulse rate approximation graph is obtained based on the first, second and third data, and the upper limit thereof is obtained. It is limited to the maximum pulse rate calculated by the age and gender of the user.

Finally, the first value obtained by subtracting 55 from the maximum pulse rate is determined as the upper limit pulse rate, and the second value obtained by subtracting 65 from the maximum pulse rate is determined as the lower limit pulse rate. This pulse rate is used for general training. In this case, the optimum load value corresponds to the lower limit pulse rate.

For weight loss training, for example, if an obese person wants to improve his or her fitness and lose weight, the maximum pulse rate is 70 minus the maximum pulse rate, and the maximum pulse rate minus 80 minus It is used as the lower limit pulse rate. As in general training, the load value corresponding to the lower control pulse rate is used as the optimum pulse rate.

If the output of the pulse detector reaches the load control condition (management pulse range) during warming up, the load control is given priority. The following method, which is carried out continuously, (1) lowers the load to an appropriate amount when the controlled pulse rate is reached within a predetermined time after the start. (2) If the upper limit pulse rate is exceeded within the scheduled time after starting, immediately lower the load to an appropriate amount. (3) If the lower limit pulse rate is not reached within the scheduled period after the start, raise it to an appropriate amount. After a certain period of time after raising or lowering the load, the same decision stop is repeated.

In this manner, the user's pulse rate per minute is maintained within the management pulse rate while repeating the increase and decrease of the load. This training continues until the selected training time has elapsed or until the amount of exercise consumed by the exercise (calculated as described below) reaches the selected amount of exercise.

Consumption momentum is calculated as follows: Sample the load every 30 seconds from the start of training. At this time, the calorie value consumed every 30 seconds is obtained from the following general formula E = load value (W) x 0.014 (kcal / minute) x 1 / 0.233 (bicycle exercise efficiency) x time (minute). The calorie value obtained is integrated until the end of training. The above-described training is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In the above embodiment, the load device uses the eddy current brake of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 12, the electric circuit of the load device is located between the power supply 22 for supplying a current to the eddy current brake 21 and the eddy current brake 21 and the power supply 22 to control the current. And a characteristic signal generating circuit 24 for supplying the square root of the load value W to the current control circuit 23 as an instruction value by the operation of Ten Key in the input / output box 11. Configure.

Instructions from the input / output box 11 are supplied to the characteristic signal generating circuit 24 via the D-A converter in the case of a digital signal and directly to the circuit 24 in the case of an analog signal.

As described above, in the ergometer load device according to the present invention, by providing the constituent components of the flywheel material of the eddy current brake, that is, the carbon and silicon content below a predetermined value, a constant torque characteristic which is much better than the conventional one is provided. Done. As a result, the control current characteristic can approximate a squared characteristic. Therefore, in the present invention, it is not necessary to use a complicated control method unlike the related art. Only the signal based on the square root of the command value by the input means can control the load device within the practical speed range of the pedal. In addition, the load provided by the eddy current brake of the load device according to the present invention is higher than the conventional one when the control current is the same.

The calorific value is small and there is no need to consider heat radiation. Therefore, the device can be miniaturized. In addition, the outer rotor of the flywheel is gray cast iron and the inner rotor is structural carbon steel pipe. Both materials are readily available at appropriate values.

In the present invention, the stator is provided in the rotor assembly. The heating element is rotated. Thus, as the rotor assembly rotates, it is radiated by convection. Only by giving the flywheel effect to the inner rotor can the outer rotor be made of a non-ferrous material such as concrete.

The provision of a torque detection means such as a strain meter such that an output is input to the microcomputer for correction can provide an accurate bicycle ergometer with the features of the present invention.

As another embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining an optimum exercise condition will be described. The various terms are as follows:

Normal Pulse Rate: The pulse rate per minute, which is kept constant under the predetermined load, and expressed as the average pulse rate per minute obtained at 2 minutes after the predetermined load is applied.

Maximum Pulse Rate: The maximum pulse rate of an individual corresponding to the maximum oxygen intake. In fact, we can determine:

Male: 220-0.7 × Age

Female: 215-0.7 × Age

Exercise optimal pulse rate: Generally speaking, about 70% of the maximum pulse rate, and the load value in the exercise optimum pulse rate of the load-pulse rate graph is referred to as the "optimal load value".

Exercise stable pulse rate: It is usually the maximum pulse rate minus the predetermined value (45). In general, it is a value that can be exercised continuously without fear of physical harm.

Maximum pulse rate of exercise: The maximum pulse rate per minute when a person is exercising. At this pulse rate, an individual can exercise for a very short time. Generally, the maximum pulse rate is obtained by subtracting the predetermined value (25).

Physical fitness tests were conducted on several people to determine the generality of the human load-pulse rate line. In order to impose a load on humans, Monarch's ergometer, which is known for stretching the legs, was used. Increasing the load stepwise to measure more than one value between the exercise maximum pulse rate and the exercise stable pulse rate as the upper limit pulse rate. A load-pulse rate graph of these people was prepared.

In addition, a two-squared mean load-pulse rate graph was prepared separately according to age (10 year old) and gender. This line is shown in Figures 15 (male) and 17 (female). As is evident in the figure, the rare load-pulse rate graphs by the least-squares mean of age do not differ significantly from each other. In women in their 50s, the pulse rate increased slightly with respect to the increase in load compared to that of the other age groups. Therefore, it can be seen that age may not be an essential factor when measuring fitness.

In order to investigate the fitness difference according to the age, the pulse rate below the exercise stable pulse rate and the load value (109 nights and 50W for men and 107 nights and 25W for men) were used as reference values. Persons with pulse rates below baseline under load were classified as solid forces (H).

Persons with pulse rates above the baseline were classified as low-weight (L). Data were used to prepare load-pulse rate graphs separately according to the solid and low body forces calculated by the least square mean over age and gender. This graph is shown in Figures 16 (male) and 18 (female).

As is apparent from the figure, the characteristic graphs of solid and low-force of the same age are parallel to each other, and the characteristic graphs of physical strengths provided separately according to age are almost the same. The characteristics of low and solid force in women in their 50s are slightly different and have a high degree of inclination).

Accordingly, when the 15th to 18th views are collectively considered, it can be understood that an individual's fitness difference is a more important parameter than age when measuring fitness. When measuring the fitness difference, first set the proper initial load and measure the normal pulse rate at the initial load. By comparing the result of the measurement with the pulse rate provided at the initial load value on the load-pulse rate graph obtained in FIGS. 15 to 18, it is possible to determine whether the subject's fitness is a solid force, a low fitness or an average fitness person. Since the average stamina is located between the solid and the low stamina, the characteristic graph of the average stamina can approximate either the high or the low stamina.

In general, the load-pulse rate graph can be determined by obtaining a load value of at least two points, preferably three or more points, and the upper limit (maximum pulse rate) can be easily obtained depending on age and gender. In this case, it is preferable to measure the pulse rate of at least 3 points | pieces except a stable pulse rate. Therefore, referring to the characteristic graphs obtained in these figures, the maximum load value was limited to the exercise optimal pulse rate, and a fitness measurement program was prepared as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 within the range.

In FIG. 19A, the first load is set to 25 W, and the judgment reference pulse rate 90 is selected from the normal pulse rate range HR ₂₅ = 90 to 95 under 25 W load. Next, the second load values are set to 50W and 65W. Normal pulse rates at the points in Fig. 16 are (18 to 127 (L classes) and 108 to 112 (H classes), respectively. 120,110 are selected as the second reference values according to the above values. Consider 190, 30 (39) 182, 40 (49) 175, exercise volume pulse rate (approx. 70%), and exercise safety pulse rate (-45). .

In FIG. 19B, the characteristic graphs of the low-forces in the 50s and 60s are steep, and the first load and the reference value are the same but the second load is reduced to 35W and 50W. The reference normal pulse rate under 50 W is set to 110 as shown in the 19a diagram. The load value applied to the low-weight person is in units of 10 W, and the reference normal pulse rate is used as the exercise optimal pulse rate.

In FIG. 20A, since the characteristic graph slope of the female is steeper than that of the male and the stable pulse rate is higher, the initial load value is set to 25 W, the reference normal pulse rate at that time is set to 95, and the second load values are set to 35 and 45 W. . Under the second load value, the reference values of the solid force are set to 55W and 65W. In the load value on the low physical force side, 35W and 45W in 10W units are set as the second and third load values from the first load value. For low stamina, the upper pulse rate is limited to the exercise volume pulse rate.

In FIG. 20B, the characteristic graph is steeply inclined as in the eighteenth degree, and has a load value in steps of 10 W similar to the case of the low physical force in FIG. 20A based on the characteristic graph, and limits the upper limit pulse rate to the exercise optimum pulse rate.

The load-pulse rate of the human is simulated based on the fitness program provided according to FIGS. 19A, 19B, 20A and 20B. The results of the simulations are shown in Table 3 (male) and Table 4 (female).

TABLE 3

TABLE 4

As shown in Table 3, only one male cannot regress the load-pulse rate graph according to the program. Thus, it can be said that the program can be used to measure the fitness of almost all men and to obtain the optimal exercise load and normal pulse rate.

In Table 4, it was not possible to revert each load-pulse rate according to the program: 12 (20%) from 20 to 49 years old and 5 (28%) from 50 years old or older. Examining these people's data, seven out of twelve, ages 20 to 49, reached exercise optimal pulse rate at 25 loads and the remaining five reached exercise optimal pulse rate at 35 loads. This cannot be approximated by a change in general formula or load value. Three out of five people over the age of 50 reach the optimal pulse rate at 25W load and the remaining two at 35W load. The same can be said for the above person.

The contents of FIGS. 15-20 are obtained in order to obtain an exercise optimal load and a normal pulse rate without increasing the load which gives almost everyone an exercise maximum pulse rate (or exercise optimum pulse rate in the case of 20 to 49 years). The fitness program shown in Figs. 19b, 20a and 20b can be used. Once the load-pulse rate graph is obtained, the load value PWC 130 or 150 can be easily obtained from a straight line at the pulse rate 130 or 150 used as a general fitness evaluation value.

The program of the present invention is described with reference to another embodiment of a bicycle ergometer.

The bicycle ergometer shown in FIG. 21 is a device for flexing the legs under load to measure physical strength. The bicycle ergometer 10 has a frame 100, a load means 200 such as an eddy current brake rotatably supported by the frame 100, and a pair of pedals 2 for rotating the load means 200. It consists. The pedal 2 is designed such that driving force is transmitted to the rotor of the load means 200 via a belt (not shown) and a reduction gear (not shown).

The bicycle ergometer 10 further includes saddles 1 which are installed on a support member extending from the frame 100. The saddle is movable vertically and the handle 3 is mounted on a support member extending from the frame 100 in front of the saddle 1. In the middle of the handle 3, there is provided an input / output box 11 for inputting physical condition (to be described later) and outputting and displaying required data. On the side of the input / output box 11, a pulse detector 12 for detecting a user's pulse is installed. A power supply 22 for driving the load means 200, an input / output box 11 and a control device 90 for controlling the load means are installed inside the frame 100. The load means 200 has a rotation detector for detecting the speed of the rotor (not shown).

22 shows a calculation control device and its peripheral device according to the present invention. The control and peripheral devices include an input / output device 31, a central processing unit 32 (hereinafter referred to as a “CPU”), a random access memory (RAM) 33, and a read oracle memory (ROM) 34. Configure. Elements 31 to 34 form microcomputer 20. The microcomputer 20 is adapted from the user's physical conditions, such as age and gender, pulse detector 12 and rotation sensor 25, supplied from input / output box 11 in accordance with the processing procedure stored in ROM 34. Signal is inputted through the input / output device 31, and arithmetic processing is performed and the result is stored in RAM. In addition, the microcomputer 20 calls the fitness measurement program stored in the ROM 34 and loads the load of the load circuit 200 through the input / output device 31 and the current control circuit 23 according to the called program. To control.

23 shows the front panel of the input / output box 11, and is composed of three parts. As an example of the user's physical condition, a key for inputting age and gender is disposed on the right side of the middle of the front panel, and a selection key for fitness measurement or training is disposed on the left side. A tone button is provided to generate an audible horn. The user synchronizes the rotation of the pedal 2 with the horn of the tone so that the ergometer is operated at an almost constant rate. To start the fitness test, the user presses the fitness test key and enters the age and gender according to the procedure shown at the bottom of the front panel.

The user rides on the saddle 1 of the bicycle ergometer 10 shown in FIG. 21 and attaches a pulse detector 12 to the ear. Under this condition, the user presses the reset key, activates the fitness test key, enters age and gender, and presses the start key. When the fitness test key is pressed and age and gender data is entered, one of the programs shown in Figs. 19A, 19B, 20A and 20B is transferred from ROM to RAM. The general formula of maximum pulse rate and exercise optimal pulse rate from age and gender is transferred from ROM to the CPU. Next, it is calculated in the CPU and the result of the calculation is stored in RAM.

After the start key is pressed, the timer circuit 27 starts to operate and the CPU counts the output pulses of the pulse detector 12. This value is stored in RAM as a stable pulse rate. The appropriate pulse rate is sampled n times for m seconds and sampled three times for 20 seconds, for example, to convert the value into a pulse rate per minute. In addition, the pulse rate per minute is averaged.

When the signal of 1 minute has passed to the CPU by the timer circuit 27, the CPU supplies a digital signal corresponding to the first load value through the input / output device 31 according to the processing level stored in the RAM. Output to (23). The current control circuit 23 is provided with a D-A converter and controls the current value supplied from the power supply 22 to the load means 200 in response to the signal from the input / output device 31.

The load means 200 is provided with a rotation sensor 25, which is connected to the CPU via an input / output device 31 to indicate whether the user rotates the load means within the desired speed range. . When the timer circuit sends a signal of 3 minutes elapsed under the first load difference, the CPU counts the output signal of the pulse detector 12 n times in m seconds and converts it into a pulse rate per minute in the range up to 4 minutes. The pulse rate per minute is averaged and stored in the RAM 33 as second data.

The CPU 32 compares the first reference value called from the RAM 33 with the second data to determine a second load value. The digital signal corresponding to the second load value is supplied to the current control circuit 23 through the input / output device 31.

As in the case of the first load value, when the load means 200 is controlled and the signal is supplied from the timer circuit to the CPU for 6 minutes, the output signal of the pulse detector 12 is n times for m seconds in the range up to 7 minutes. At the same time as counting, convert into pulse rate per minute. The data are averaged and stored in the RAM 33 as third data.

The CPU 32 compares the third data of the second reference value called from the RAM 33 and determines the third load value. Under the third load value, the CPU 32 counts the output signal from the pulse detector 12 and calculates it as the pulse rate per sequential minute, and at the same time, the exercise calculated from the age and gender of the user stored in the RAM 33. Compare with the optimal pulse rate. Only when the pulse rate up to 9 minutes elapses is the exercise optimum pulse rate, the CPU 32 counts the signal from the pulse detector n times for m seconds within the range of 10 minutes.

Convert to pulse rate per minute. The obtained pulse rate per minute is averaged and stored in the RAM 33 as fourth data. Thus, when the timer circuit 27 outputs a signal that has elapsed 10 minutes, the second third and fourth data are transferred from the RAM 33 to the CPU and the load-pulse approximation equation from the ROM 34 [H = bx + a] is called.

According to the resultant expression, the load value corresponding to the maximum pulse rate determined by the age and sex in the RAM 33 is obtained. The value obtained by multiplying these values by 0.7 (integer) is stored in the RAM 33 as the exercise optimum pulse rate and load value. These values are also output to the display device of the input / output device 31 input / output box 11 and displayed as the general training value W. FIG.

If the pulse rate of the user reaches the exercise optimal pulse rate stored in the RAM before the timer circuit outputs the signal of 9 minutes to the CPU, the following operation is performed. The CPU 32 drives the signal generating circuit (not shown) in the input / output box 11 through I / O to operate a buzzer or the like to notify the user of the state and to stop the fitness measurement program. In addition, the first second and third data stored in the RAM 33 are transferred into the CPU 32 and a load-pulse approximation equation is called from the ROM 34. Similarly, the load-pulse rate graph is approximated, and the motion volume load and pulse rate are calculated and displayed on the display device of the input / output box.

If it is thought that the pulse rate from the first data to the fourth data described above reaches a normal pulse rate, the pulse rate is counted n times for m seconds and three times for 20 seconds, for example. The average pulse rate is obtained by converting the counted pulse rate into a pulse rate per minute and averaging the obtained pulse rate per minute.

In this method, however, the error is increased by multiplying three factors (or 60 / m) to obtain a pulse rate. Therefore, in order to measure the normal pulse rate under exactly the predetermined load, the moving average method is used to average the pulse rate. That is, after the pulse rate is considered to be normal under the predetermined load, the pulse pulse detected by the pulse detector is continuously measured, and the total price average of the data before n (integer) is calculated to calculate the pulse rate at the present time. It is a cycle. Therefore, the total price average of successive moving average pulse periods is calculated to provide a pulse rate per minute.

In addition, it is particularly good to use the following method. Excluding the maximum and minimum values from the moving average pulse period, the total price average is calculated from the remaining moving average pulse periods to obtain a pulse rate per minute.

As described above, when the fitness is measured using the method of the present invention, the load-pulse pulse straight line of each individual is stored in the RAM 33. For example, the load value (evaluation value) at pulse rate 150 or 130, that is, PWC 150 or PWC 130 can be easily calculated.

As described above, the categories of fitness program are men and women, 20-49 years old and 50 years old or older. However, by dividing age into smaller groups, it is possible to more accurately measure exercise optimality. The general formula of the load-pulse graph for each generation can be obtained and the maximum pulse rate, optimal exercise pulse rate, exercise safety pulse rate and maximum exercise pulse rate can be calculated. Therefore, it is possible to create a fitness measuring program for a combination of many genders and ages.

For example, fitness measurements for 20-34 and 35-49 year olds separated from those of 20-49 years shown in FIGS. 25A-25C and 26A-26C shown in FIGS. 19A, 19B, 20A, and 20B. The program is shown. 27A to 27D are flowcharts for each program.

The optimum load value measured in the present invention described above, the normal pulse rate at that time, the value of PWC 150 or 130, and the load pulse rate characteristic graph are displayed by the display device. However, it is lost when the power switch is turned off, so a printer that prints out these data may be used.

If these data are stored in a storage means provided internally or externally, they can be called when necessary, and can be used as comparison data when the user newly measures physical strength. In the case of monthly training, this method is suitable because it is not necessary to input data every time.

In the case where the data is stored by means inside the apparatus for storing the data, a separate memory backed up by a battery or the like is provided, and the data is stored together with the ID code given to the user. In addition, an indelible memory device can also be used. Thus, when the user only inputs the ID code, all the above data is called from the memory and transferred to the RAM 33. A magnetic card can be used to store data in a means external to the apparatus.

This method is more convenient since there is no need to enter an ID code since each data is stored in a magnetic card.

Although the salient features of the invention have been described with reference to the drawings, it will be understood that modifications and variations of the embodiments and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

An eddy current brake, comprising: a rotor assembly comprising an iron material having a carbon content of 0.12% or less and a silicon content of 0.35% or less, a stator provided in the rotor assembly, a plurality of excitation coils provided on the stator, An eddy current brake, comprising: a power source for supplying energy to the exciting coil. 2. The material of claim 1 wherein the rotor assembly is a material selected from the group consisting of an outer rotor of one kind of material and structural carbon steel pipes (STK and STKM) having a carbon content of 0.12% or less and a silicon content of 0.35% or less. Eddy current brake, characterized in that the concentric structure having an inner rotor made of a different kind of material inserted into the outer rotor. 3. The eddy current brake of claim 2 wherein said other type of material is cast iron. 3. The eddy current brake of claim 2 wherein the outer rotor is made of a non-ferrous material to impart a flywheel effect to the inner rotor. 5. The eddy current brake of claim 4 wherein the nonferrous material is concrete. A load device using a bicycle ergometer, comprising: a rotor assembly, a stator provided in the rotor assembly, a plurality of excitation coils provided on the stator, a power supply for supplying energy to the excitation coil, and a desired load Value indicating means, a square root characteristic signal generating circuit for generating a current command signal corresponding to the desired load value, and the power source and the excitation coil for controlling a current supplied to the coil in response to the current command signal. And a constant current drive circuit provided between the load devices. 7. The load device of claim 6, wherein the rotor assembly comprises an iron material having a carbon content of 0.12% or less and a silicon content of 0.35% or less. 7. The rotor assembly of claim 6, wherein the rotor assembly comprises an outer rotor of a first material selected from the group consisting of structural carbon steel pipes (STK and STKM) having a carbon content of 0.12% or less and a silicon content of 0.35% or less, A load device, characterized in that it is inserted into the rotor and has an inner rotor made of a second material and is concentric. 9. The load device of claim 8, wherein the second material comprises cast iron. 9. The load device of claim 8, wherein the outer rotor is made of a non-ferrous material to impart a flywheel effect to the inner rotor. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a current control circuit for controlling said constant current drive circuit and torque detection means for correcting an output of said square root characteristic signal generating circuit and applying this corrected output to said current control circuit. Characterized by a load device. A bicycle ergometer comprising: an exercise device used by a user, input means for inputting the user's physical condition, a pulse detector for measuring the user's pulse rate per minute, and the input body according to a program to provide a training range The training range defined by the lower limit pulse rate per minute and the upper limit pulse rate per minute corresponding to the condition is calculated, and a load change signal is output when the output of the pulse detector is out of the training range during the continuous exercise of the user, thereby calculating the user's pulse rate. And a load control device connected to the exercise device for varying the load applied to the exercise device in accordance with the load change signal. 13. The stator assembly of claim 12, further comprising: a rotor assembly comprising an iron material having a carbon content of 0.12% or less and a silicon content of 0.35% or less, a stator provided in the rotor assembly having a plurality of radially arranged coils; And a characteristic signal generation circuit for generating a square root signal in response to an output of the operational control circuit, and a power source for exciting the coil in response to the square root signal. 14. The rotor assembly of claim 13 wherein the rotor assembly is a concentric circular structure comprising an outer rotor and an inner rotor made of a material selected from structural carbon steel pipes (STK and STKM) and inserted into the outer rotor. Bicycle ergometer. 15. The bicycle ergometer according to claim 14, wherein the outer rotor is made of cast iron. 15. The bicycle ergometer of claim 14, wherein the outer rotor is made of a non-ferrous material to impart a flywheel effect to the inner rotor. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: a current control circuit for controlling a current supplied to the exciting coil, a output of a characteristic signal generating circuit in response to the torque of the rotor assembly, and applying the corrected output to the current control circuit. And a torque detecting means connected to said rotor assembly for the purpose of mounting said bicycle ergometer. The user's legs are flexed to rotate the rotating device with the variable load applied during the user's continuous movement, the exercise load is increased step by step, and the load and the user's load at each stage are provided to provide a linear load-pulse rate correlation graph. A method of obtaining an optimal load of an exercise device user that measures a normal pulse rate per minute, comprising: measuring a user's pulse rate per minute when the user is resting to produce the first data, and calculating the second data of the user at the first load; Measure the normal pulse rate per minute and compare the second data with the first reference value, which is the normal pulse rate per minute at the first load on the load-pulse rate correlation graph calculated by the statistically obtained least squares mean to determine the second load value The normal pulse rate per minute of the user at the second load value is calculated to yield the third data. Measure and compare the third data with a second reference value, which is the normal pulse rate per minute at the second load on the load-pulse rate graph calculated by the statistically obtained least squares mean to determine the third load, Measure the user's normal pulse rate per minute at the third load to calculate and measure the upper limit of the measured normal pulse rate per minute, which is limited to the exercise safety pulse rate per minute for the user, and according to the second to fourth data or the fourth data Determining the optimum load value of the user according to the first to third data when the exercise safety pulse rate per minute is reached before being obtained. 19. An exercise apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the stored load values can be read out from the storage means according to a program instruction, including storing the first, second, third and optimum load values in the storage means. How to get your optimal load. 19. The method of claim 18, comprising selecting the first reference value and the second reference value according to an age and gender of the user.

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